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{{Short description|2002 Telugu film starring Chiranjeevi}} | |||
{{About-distinguish|the 2002 Telugu film|Indira (film)}} | |||
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2021}} | {{Use Indian English|date=July 2021}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}} | ||
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| caption = Theatrical release poster | | caption = Theatrical release poster | ||
| director = [[B. Gopal]] | | director = [[B. Gopal]] | ||
| producer = [[C. | | producer = [[C. Aswani Dutt]] | ||
| | | writer = '''Story''':<br/>Chinni Krishna<br/>'''Screenplay''' & '''Dialogues''':<br/>[[Paruchuri Brothers]] | ||
| starring = [[Chiranjeevi]]<br/>[[Aarthi Agarwal]]<br/>[[Sonali Bendre]] | |||
| starring = | |||
| music = [[Mani Sharma]] | | music = [[Mani Sharma]] | ||
| cinematography = [[V. S. R. Swamy]] | | cinematography = [[V. S. R. Swamy]] | ||
| editing = [[Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao]] | | editing = [[Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao]] | ||
| studio = [[Vyjayanthi Movies]] | | studio = [[Vyjayanthi Movies]] | ||
| released = {{film date|df=yes|2002|07|24}} | |||
| released = {{film date|2002|07|24 | |||
| runtime = 173 minutes | | runtime = 173 minutes | ||
| country = India | | country = India | ||
| language = Telugu | | language = Telugu | ||
| budget = {{INR| | | budget = {{INR| 13 [[crore]]|link=yes}}<ref name="news18" /> | ||
| gross = {{Estimation}} {{INR| | | gross = {{Estimation}} {{INR| 55 crore}}<ref name="htimes" /><ref name="hmtv">{{Cite web|last=Krishna|date=24 July 2020|title=18 Years for Megastar Indra Movie : మెగాస్టార్ 'ఇంద్ర' కి 18 ఏళ్ళు!|url=https://www.hmtvlive.com/movies/18-years-complete-for-megastar-indra-movie-49646|access-date=5 July 2021|website=HMTV|language=te}}</ref> | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''''Indra''''' | '''''Indra''''' is a 2002 Indian [[Telugu language|Telugu]]-language [[action drama film]] directed by [[B. Gopal]] and produced by [[C. Aswani Dutt]] under [[Vyjayanthi Movies]] banner. The film stars [[Chiranjeevi]] in the title role, alongside [[Aarthi Agarwal]], [[Sonali Bendre]], [[Mukesh Rishi]], [[Sivaji (Telugu actor)|Sivaji]], and [[Prakash Raj]] in key roles. The music for the film was composed by [[Mani Sharma]]. | ||
The film was released on 24 July 2002. Made on a budget of {{INR|13 [[crore]]}}, it grossed over {{INR|55 crore}}, becoming the [[List of highest-grossing Telugu films|highest-grossing Telugu film]] at the time,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=24 July 2020 |title=మెగాస్టార్ 'ఇంద్ర' కి నేటితో 18 ఏళ్లు.! |trans-title=Megastar's ''Indra'' completes 18 years today! |url=https://www.ntnews.com/cinema/megastar-indra-turns-18-today-60311 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030211027/https://www.ntnews.com/cinema/megastar-indra-turns-18-today-60311 |archive-date=30 October 2020 |access-date=5 July 2021 |website=[[Namasthe Telangana]] |language=te}}</ref><ref name="htimes">{{Cite web |last=Jain |first=Saudamini |date=2015-03-05 |title=Why Indra The Tiger is a permanent fixture on Indian television |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/why-indra-the-tiger-is-a-permanent-fixture-on-indian-television/story-ofjy0fOTqSMm7Bh8CClEGN.html |access-date=2020-08-01 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> and the [[List of highest-grossing South Indian films|highest-grossing South-Indian film]], surpassing ''[[Padayappa]]'' (1999). It also became the first South Indian film to gross over ₹50 crore in a single language and was the second highest-grossing Indian film of 2002, after [[Devdas (2002 Hindi film)|''Devdas'']].<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=22 September 2023 |title=When Chiranjeevi-starrer Hit Film Indra Was Criticised For This Scene |url=https://www.news18.com/movies/when-chiranjeevi-starrer-hit-film-indra-was-criticised-for-this-scene-8586119.html |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=[[News18]] |language=en}}</ref> | |||
''Indra'' received positive reviews and won several awards, including three [[Nandi Awards]] and two [[Filmfare Awards South]]. Chiranjeevi received both the [[Nandi Award for Best Actor]] and [[Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu]] for his performance. The film was dubbed into Hindi as ''Indra: The Tiger<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last1=S. |first1=Vidya |last2=Lidhoo |first2=Prerna |date=22 July 2022 |title=How Movies From the South Conquered Bollywood |url=http://www.businesstoday.in/interactive/longread/how-movies-from-the-south-conquered-bollywood-146-22-07-2022 |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=[[Business Today (India)|Business Today]] |quote=Says Applause Entertainment CEO Sameer Nair: “We used to play Indra: The Tiger (Hindi dub of Telugu film Indra) and our ratings were sorted for two weeks."}}</ref>'' and was remade in Indian [[Bengali language|Bengali]] as ''Dada'' (2005) and [[Bangladesh]]i Bengali as ''Goriber Dada'' (2006). | |||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
In a village in [[Rayalaseema]], two rival clans led by Bharathasimha Reddy and Veera Siva Reddy, are embroiled in a cycle of violence. A police inspector arranges a marriage between Bharathasimha Reddy's brother, Vijayasimha Reddy, and Siva Reddy's sister to broker peace. However, Siva Reddy's sister poisons Vijayasimha Reddy on their wedding night, leading to both their deaths. Following this betrayal, Siva Reddy and his men kill Bharathasimha Reddy. Siva Reddy is arrested and sentenced to 14 years in prison. | |||
With the male leaders of Bharathasimha's family dead, his son, Indrasena "Indra" Reddy, steps up to lead the clan. In a powerful scene, Indra takes a sword and sits on the throne, symbolising his new role as the clan leader, much to the delight of his paternal grandmother and the rest of the clan. | |||
In 2002, Indra is living in [[Varanasi]] under the alias Shankar Narayana, a truthful and honest taxi driver. During a singing competition at his niece's college, her friend Pallavi, the daughter of [[Uttar Pradesh]]'s governor Chenna Kesava Reddy, falls in love with Shankar and pretends to be an orphan to live at his house. When Chenna Kesava Reddy discovers his daughter's whereabouts, he goes to Shankar's home but changes his mind upon recognizing him as Indrasena Reddy. Instead, he requests Shankar to marry Pallavi, but Shankar refuses due to his responsibilities towards his niece, Nandini. | |||
Giri, an orphaned youth who has become Shankar's right-hand man, confesses his love for Nandini, and Shankar arranges their wedding. However, the wedding is disrupted by Snehalatha Reddy, who reveals that Giri is actually Veera Manohar Reddy, the son of Veera Shankar Reddy, Siva Reddy's elder son. She also addresses Shankar as Indrasena Reddy, shocking his adoptive family. After a confrontation, Valmiki, Indra's trusted associate, narrates Indra's past. | |||
Indra, revered in his village, was dedicated to the welfare of the people. After Siva Reddy's release from prison, Indra warned him to stay away, but Siva Reddy instigated violence, leading Indra to kill him. Snehalatha, Siva Reddy's daughter, fell in love with Indra, but Veera Shankar Reddy sought revenge. Indra saved Veera Shankar Reddy's younger son from an accident, but Veera Shankar Reddy killed his own son to maintain his pride. | |||
Indra confronted Veera Shankar Reddy, allowing the boy's mother to mourn before burying him and planting a "[[Ocimum tenuiflorum|Tulasi]]" sapling over his grave, symbolizing the boy's soul. Indra warned Veera Shankar Reddy to protect the plant or face his wrath. Snehalatha then proposed marriage to Indra, but the village's drought led Indra to negotiate for the construction of a reservoir, which required land from Siva Reddy's family. Veera Shankar Reddy demanded Indra's entire property in return, to which Indra agreed. Snehalatha asked to marry Indra as her share of the land, and he accepted. | |||
However, on their wedding day, Veera Shankar Reddy killed Indra's sisters and their husbands, orphaning Nandini and her brother Pradeep. Enraged, Indra killed Veera Shankar Reddy's three brothers and wounded him. Misled by her family, Snehalatha believed Indra was responsible for the violence and broke off the engagement. Indra then left the village for [[Varanasi]] to raise his niece and nephew. | |||
In the present, Nandini attempts suicide after becoming pregnant with Manohar Reddy's child. Indra returns to the village, receiving a hero's welcome. He confronts Veera Shankar Reddy and demands that Manohar Reddy marry Nandini. Snehalatha learns the truth about her brothers' actions and tries to help, but is attacked. Indra saves her and decides to end the cycle of revenge without killing Veera Shankar Reddy. Manohar Reddy marries Nandini, but Indra remains focused on his duty to the people, rejecting marriage proposals from both Snehalatha and Pallavi. The film ends with Indra receiving widespread support from the villagers, solidifying his commitment to ending the violence in Rayalaseema. | |||
== Cast == | == Cast == | ||
{{ | {{Cast listing| | ||
* [[Chiranjeevi]] as Indrasena Reddy / Shankar Narayana | * [[Chiranjeevi]] as Indrasena "Indra" Reddy / Shankar Narayana | ||
** [[Sajja | ** [[Teja Sajja]] as young Indrasena Reddy | ||
* [[Aarthi Agarwal]] as | * [[Aarthi Agarwal]] as Snehalatha Reddy | ||
* [[Sonali Bendre]] as Pallavi | * [[Sonali Bendre]] as Pallavi Reddy | ||
* [[Sivaji (Telugu actor)|Sivaji]] as Veera Manohara Reddy / Giri | * [[Sivaji (Telugu actor)|Sivaji]] as Veera Manohara Reddy / Giri | ||
** [[Tanish]] as | ** [[Tanish]] as young Veera Manohar Reddy | ||
* [[Ilavarasi]] as Indra's elder sister | * [[Ilavarasi|Kalpana]] as Indra's elder sister | ||
* [[Vinaya Prasad]] as Indra's eldest sister | * [[Vinaya Prasad]] as Indra's eldest sister | ||
* [[Mukesh Rishi]] as Veera Shankar Reddy | * [[Mukesh Rishi]] as Veera Shankar Reddy | ||
* [[Delhi rajeswari]] as Veera Shankar Reddy Wife. | |||
* [[Prakash Raj]] as Chenna Kesava Reddy | * [[Prakash Raj]] as Chenna Kesava Reddy | ||
* [[Puneet Issar]] as | * [[Puneet Issar]] as Shoukath Ali Khan | ||
* [[Raza Murad]] as Veera | * [[Raza Murad]] as Veera Siva Reddy | ||
* [[Tanikella Bharani]] as Valmiki, Indrasena Reddy's assistant | * [[Tanikella Bharani]] as Valmiki Reddy, Indrasena Reddy's assistant | ||
* [[Ahuti Prasad]] as Indrasena Reddy's brother-in-law | * [[Ahuti Prasad]] as Krishna Reddy, Indrasena Reddy's brother-in-law | ||
* [[Sunil (actor)|Sunil]] as Balu, Veera Shankar Reddy's brother-in-law | * [[Sunil (actor)|Sunil]] as Balu Natha, Veera Shankar Reddy's brother-in-law | ||
* [[Brahmanandam]] as Pandit | * [[Brahmanandam]] as Pandit | ||
* [[Sameer Hasan|Sameer]] as Vijaya Simha Reddy, Indrasena Reddy's uncle | * [[Sameer Hasan|Sameer]] as Vijaya Simha Reddy, Indrasena Reddy's uncle | ||
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* [[M. S. Narayana]] as Gangaram, car driver | * [[M. S. Narayana]] as Gangaram, car driver | ||
* [[Pavala Syamala]] as Bamma | * [[Pavala Syamala]] as Bamma | ||
* [[Narra Venkateswara Rao]] as Superintendent of Police | * [[Narra Venkateswara Rao]] as Superintendent of Police Damodar Reddy | ||
* [[Allu Ramalingaiah]] as Subba Rayudu | * [[Allu Ramalingaiah]] as Subba Rayudu | ||
* [[Amanchi Venkata Subrahmanyam|AVS]] as Bacchu Peda | * [[Amanchi Venkata Subrahmanyam|AVS]] as Bacchu Peda Pichayya | ||
* [[G. V. Sudhakar Naidu]] | * [[G. V. Sudhakar Naidu]] as Veera Prathap Reddy | ||
* [[Raja Ravindra]] | * [[Raja Ravindra]] as Veera Bhadra Reddy | ||
* [[Lakshmi Sharma|Lahari]] as | * [[Lakshmi Sharma|Lahari]] as Nandini Manohara Natha | ||
* [[Rajitha]] | * [[Rajitha]] | ||
* [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]] as | * [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]] as himself in a cameo appearance | ||
* [[Rani (Tamil actress)|Rani]] in cameo appearance | * [[Rani (Tamil actress)|Rani]] in cameo appearance | ||
* | * [[:te::శివకృష్ణ|Sivakrishna]] as Bharatha Simha Reddy, Indrasena Reddy's father | ||
* Kalpana as | * Kalpana as Veera Siva Natha's sister | ||
* [[Telangana Shakuntala]] as Indrasena's | * [[Telangana Shakuntala]] as Mrs Reddy; Indrasena's grandmother | ||
* | * Unknown as Pradeep Reddy; | ||
* Yadagiri as Veera Shankar Reddy henchmen | ** [[Ananda Vardhan|Aanand Vardhan]] as Indra's nephew (young) | ||
{{ | * Unknown as Mamat; | ||
* Yadagiri as Veera Shankar Reddy's henchmen | |||
}} | |||
==Production== | |||
=== Development === | |||
Following the successes of ''[[Gang Leader]]'' (1991) and ''[[Gharana Mogudu]]'' (1992), Chiranjeevi experienced a period without delivering an industry hit, although he continued to deliver major blockbusters. During this time, fans and industry analysts eagerly awaited his return with a strong mass entertainer. Chiranjeevi, meanwhile, considered taking on a family-oriented story to reconnect with his audience.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=24 July 2024 |title=Indra: 'ఇంద్ర'ను తెరకెక్కించేందుకు వెనకడుగేశారు కానీ: ఈ బ్లాక్ బస్టర్ మూవీ విశేషాలు తెలుసా? |url=https://www.eenadu.net/telugu-news/movies/interesting-facts-about-indra-starring-chiranjeevi/0208/124136659 |access-date=2025-01-04 |website=[[Eenadu]] |language=te}}</ref> | |||
Producer [[C. Aswini Dutt|Aswani Dutt]] and director [[B. Gopal]] were approached by writer Chinni Krishna with a new story set in [[Rayalaseema]], addressing the region's water crisis as a central theme intertwined with factional conflicts.<ref name=":7">{{cite web |date=12 January 2003 |title=Indra 175 days function |url=https://www.idlebrain.com/news/functions/indra175days.html |access-date=17 December 2024 |website=Idlebrain}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> While the script showed promise, there were concerns about audience reception to another faction-themed film, given B. Gopal's association with such narratives. B. Gopal was also hesitant to direct the project due to his earlier unsuccessful collaboration with Chiranjeevi on ''[[Mechanic Alludu]]'' (1993). However, writer [[Paruchuri Gopala Krishna]] eventually persuaded him to take on the project.<ref name=":3" /> | |||
Chinni Krishna was tasked with further developing the story, which initially had the [[Krishna River|Krishna]]-[[Godavari River|Godavari]] river region as its backdrop. During discussions with Paruchuri Gopala Krishna, the setting was changed to [[Varanasi|Kasi]] (Varanasi) and the [[Ganges|Ganga]] river region to expand the narrative's scope.<ref name=":3" /> | |||
The film marked Chiranjeevi's third collaboration with [[Vyjayanthi Movies]], following ''[[Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari]]'' (1990) and ''[[Choodalani Vundi]]'' (1998). After two months of filming, Aswani Dutt suggested the title ''Indra'', which Chiranjeevi approved.<ref name=":4">{{cite web |date=2 July 2002 |title=Interview with Aswini Dutt by Jeevi |url=https://www.idlebrain.com/celeb/interview/inter_aswinidutt.html |access-date=17 December 2024 |website=Idlebrain}}</ref> | |||
=== Casting === | |||
[[Jyothika]] and [[Simran (actress)|Simran]] were initially considered for the lead female roles, but were replaced by [[Aarthi Agarwal|Aarti Agarwal]] and [[Sonali Bendre]]. For the role played by [[Sivaji (Telugu actor)|Sivaji]], actors such as [[Venkat (actor)|Venkat]] and [[Raja (Telugu actor)|Raja]] were considered before Sivaji was finalised.<ref name=":3" /> | |||
=== Filming === | |||
The film was completed in 120 working days with a budget of ₹7 [[crore]], excluding Chiranjeevi's remuneration.<ref name=":3" /> Sets resembling Varanasi were recreated at [[Annapurna Studios]], while a Rayalaseema village set was constructed at [[Ramoji Film City]]. Two duets were filmed in [[Switzerland]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Movie Preview - Indra |url=https://www.idlebrain.com/movie/coming/indra.html |access-date=16 December 2024 |website=Idlebrain}}</ref> Portions of the film were shot in Varanasi and [[Lucknow]] in January 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |last=C. Vanaja |date=2002 |title=News Capsule |url=http://www.telugucinema.com/movies/news/tidbits.html |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=[[Telugucinema.com]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020206051642/http://www.telugucinema.com/movies/news/tidbits.html |archive-date=6 February 2002 }}</ref> | |||
==Music== | ==Music== | ||
{{Infobox album | {{Infobox album | ||
| name | | name = Indra | ||
| type | | type = Soundtrack | ||
| artist | | artist = [[Mani Sharma]] | ||
| cover | | cover = | ||
| alt | | alt = | ||
| caption | | caption = Album cover | ||
| released | | released = 2002 | ||
| recorded | | recorded = 2002 | ||
| venue | | venue = | ||
| studio | | studio = | ||
| genre | | genre = [[Film soundtrack|Feature film soundtrack]] | ||
| length | | length = 31:52 | ||
| language | | language = [[Telugu language|Telugu]] | ||
| label | | label = [[Aditya Music]] | ||
| producer | | producer = Mani Sharma | ||
| prev_title = [[Youth (2002 film)|Youth]] | | prev_title = [[Youth (2002 film)|Youth]] | ||
| prev_year | | prev_year = 2002 | ||
| next_title = [[ | | next_title = [[Chennakesava Reddy]] | ||
| next_year | | next_year = 2002 | ||
}} | }} | ||
The | The soundtrack of ''Indra'' was composed by [[Mani Sharma]], with the song "Ayyo Ayyo Ayyayyo" composed by [[R. P. Patnaik]] due to Mani Sharma's unavailability.<ref name=":3" /> The album featured six songs, chosen from 11 recorded tracks.<ref name=":4" /> | ||
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/indraaudio.html|title=Telugu Cinema Etc - Idlebrain.com|access-date=16 September 2016}}</ref> | |||
{{ | The audio was released on the evening of 14 June 2002 at a set in the first floor of [[Annapurna Studios]].<ref name=":5" /> The audio album of ''Indra'' was released 45 days before the film's theatrical release, instead of the usual 20–30 days, to ensure the music had more time to resonate with the audience.<ref name=":4" /> | ||
| headline = Tracklist (Telugu) | |||
| extra_column = Singer(s) | [[Gemini TV]] covered this event and it was telecast as a 30-minute capsule on Gemini TV. Chiranjeevi selected a coupon from the lucky dip box and called the lucky fan to the stage. Chiranjeevi opened the audio box and handed over the first cassette to that fan. The audio hit the market on 17 June 2002.<ref name=":5">{{cite web|url=http://www.idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/indraaudio.html|title=Telugu Cinema Etc - Idlebrain.com|access-date=16 September 2016}}</ref> | ||
| total_length = 31:52 | {{track listing | ||
| title1 = Bham Bham Bole | | headline = Tracklist (Telugu) | ||
| lyrics1 = [[Sirivennela Sitaramasastri]] | | extra_column = Singer(s) | ||
| extra1 = [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]], [[Shankar Mahadevan]] | | total_length = 31:52 | ||
| length1 = 6:08 | | title1 = Bham Bham Bole | ||
| title2 = Ammadu Appachi | | lyrics1 = [[Sirivennela Sitaramasastri]] | ||
| lyrics2 = [[Veturi | | extra1 = [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]], [[Shankar Mahadevan]] | ||
| extra2 = [[S. P. | | length1 = 6:08 | ||
| length2 = 4:44 | | title2 = Ammadu Appachi | ||
| title3 = Radhe Govinda | | lyrics2 = [[Veturi]] | ||
| lyrics3 = [[Bhuvanachandra]] | | extra2 = [[S. P. Balasubrahmanyam]] & Kalpana | ||
| extra3 = [[K. S. Chithra]], [[Udit Narayan]] | | length2 = 4:44 | ||
| length3 = 4:50 | | title3 = Radhe Govinda | ||
| title4 = Ghallu Ghallu | | lyrics3 = [[Bhuvanachandra]] | ||
| lyrics4 = Sirivennela Sitaramasastri | | extra3 = [[K. S. Chithra]], [[Udit Narayan]] | ||
| extra4 = S. P. | | length3 = 4:50 | ||
| length4 = 5:52 | | title4 = Ghallu Ghallu | ||
| title5 = Dayi Dayi Damma | | lyrics4 = Sirivennela Sitaramasastri | ||
| lyrics5 = Sirivennela Sitaramasastri | | extra4 = S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, [[Mallikarjun]] | ||
| extra5 = [[KK (singer)|KK]] & [[Mahalakshmi Iyer]] | | length4 = 5:52 | ||
| length5 = 5:20 | | title5 = Dayi Dayi Damma | ||
| title6 = Ayyo Ayyo Ayyayyo | | lyrics5 = Sirivennela Sitaramasastri | ||
| note6 = Composed by [[R. P. Patnaik]] | | extra5 = [[KK (singer)|KK]] & [[Mahalakshmi Iyer]] | ||
| lyrics6 = Kulasekhar | | length5 = 5:20 | ||
| extra6 = [[Karthik (singer)|Karthik]] & [[Singer Usha|Usha]] | | title6 = Ayyo Ayyo Ayyayyo | ||
| length6 = 4:58 | | note6 = Composed by [[R. P. Patnaik]] | ||
| title9 = | | lyrics6 = [[Kulasekhar]] | ||
| title10 = | | extra6 = [[Karthik (singer)|Karthik]] & [[Singer Usha|Usha]] | ||
| length9 = | | length6 = 4:58 | ||
| all_writing = | | title9 = | ||
| length8 = | | title10 = | ||
| title8 = | | length9 = | ||
| length7 = | | all_writing = | ||
| title7 = | | length8 = | ||
| length10 = | | title8 = | ||
}}<br />{{ | | length7 = | ||
| headline = Tracklist (Tamil) | | title7 = | ||
| extra_column = Singer(s) | | length10 = | ||
| total_length = 31:52 | }} | ||
| title1 = Bom Bom Osai | |||
| lyrics1 = Muthulingam | <br />{{track listing | ||
| extra1 = [[Tippu (singer)|Tippu]] | | headline = Tracklist (Tamil) | ||
| length1 = 6:08 | | extra_column = Singer(s) | ||
| title2 = Alva Thundu Penne | | total_length = 31:52 | ||
| lyrics2 = Snehan | | title1 = Bom Bom Osai | ||
| extra2 = Tippu, [[Anuradha Sriram]] | | lyrics1 = Muthulingam | ||
| length2 = 4:44 | | extra1 = [[Tippu (singer)|Tippu]] | ||
| title3 = Radhe Gopala | | length1 = 6:08 | ||
| lyrics3 = Ponniyin Selvan | | title2 = Alva Thundu Penne | ||
| extra3 = [[P. Unnikrishnan|Unnikrishnan]], [[Sujatha Mohan|Sujatha]] | | lyrics2 = Snehan | ||
| length3 = 4:50 | | extra2 = Tippu, [[Anuradha Sriram]] | ||
| title4 = Jhallu Jhallu | | length2 = 4:44 | ||
| lyrics4 = Muthulingam | | title3 = Radhe Gopala | ||
| extra4 = Ramu | | lyrics3 = Ponniyin Selvan | ||
| length4 = 5:52 | | extra3 = [[P. Unnikrishnan|Unnikrishnan]], [[Sujatha Mohan|Sujatha]] | ||
| title5 = Aadi Aadi Vamma | | length3 = 4:50 | ||
| lyrics5 = Ponniyin Selvan | | title4 = Jhallu Jhallu | ||
| extra5 = [[Yugendran]], Sri Vardhini | | lyrics4 = Muthulingam | ||
| length5 = 5:20 | | extra4 = Ramu | ||
| title6 = Ayayaya | | length4 = 5:52 | ||
| note6 = Composed by [[R. P. Patnaik]] | | title5 = Aadi Aadi Vamma | ||
| lyrics6 = Snehan | | lyrics5 = Ponniyin Selvan | ||
| extra6 = [[Karthik (singer)|Karthik]], Shalini | | extra5 = [[Yugendran]], Sri Vardhini | ||
| length6 = 4:58 | | length5 = 5:20 | ||
| all_writing = | | title6 = Ayayaya | ||
| note6 = Composed by [[R. P. Patnaik]] | |||
| lyrics6 = Snehan | |||
| extra6 = [[Karthik (singer)|Karthik]], Shalini | |||
| length6 = 4:58 | |||
| all_writing = | |||
}} | |||
<br />{{track listing | |||
| headline = Tracklist (Hindi) | |||
| extra_column = Singer(s) | |||
| total_length = 31:52 | |||
| all_lyrics = Dev Kohli | |||
| title1 = Bam Bam Bole | |||
| lyrics1 = | |||
| extra1 = [[Tippu (singer)|Tippu]] | |||
| length1 = 6:08 | |||
| title2 = Main Tera Deewana | |||
| lyrics2 = | |||
| extra2 = | |||
| length2 = 4:44 | |||
| title3 = Radhe Govinda Tu Mera Chanda | |||
| lyrics3 = | |||
| extra3 = [[Udit Narayan]], [[Sadhana Sargam]] | |||
| length3 = 4:50 | |||
| title4 = Jhoom Jhoom Ke Payal | |||
| lyrics4 = | |||
| extra4 = [[Suresh Wadkar]] | |||
| length4 = 5:52 | |||
| title5 = Yeh Haseena Chehra | |||
| headline = Tracklist (Hindi) | | lyrics5 = | ||
| extra_column = Singer(s) | | extra5 = Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam | ||
| total_length = 31:52 | | length5 = 5:20 | ||
| title1 = Bam Bam Bole | | title6 = Kaisi Hai Barfili Thandi Yeh Hawa | ||
| lyrics1 = | | note6 = Composed by [[R. P. Patnaik]] | ||
| extra1 = [[ | | lyrics6 = | ||
| length1 = 6:08 | | extra6 = | ||
| title2 = Main Tera Deewana | | length6 = 4:58 | ||
| lyrics2 = | | all_writing = | ||
| extra2 = | |||
| length2 = 4:44 | |||
| title3 = Radhe Govinda Tu Mera Chanda | |||
| lyrics3 = | |||
| extra3 = [[Udit Narayan]], [[Sadhana Sargam]] | |||
| length3 = 4:50 | |||
| title4 = Jhoom Jhoom Ke Payal | |||
| lyrics4 = | |||
| extra4 = [[Suresh Wadkar]] | |||
| length4 = 5:52 | |||
| title5 = Yeh Haseena Chehra | |||
| lyrics5 = | |||
| extra5 = Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam | |||
| length5 = 5:20 | |||
| title6 = Kaisi Hai Barfili Thandi Yeh Hawa | |||
| note6 = Composed by [[R. P. Patnaik]] | |||
| lyrics6 = | |||
| extra6 = | |||
| length6 = 4:58 | |||
| all_writing | |||
}} | }} | ||
==Release== | ==Release== | ||
''Indra'' was released on 24 July 2002 | ''Indra'' was released on 24 July 2002, on 268 screens, including 223 in [[Andhra Pradesh]], 30 in [[Karnataka]], three in [[Odisha|Orissa]], and 15 in the [[United States]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web |date=2002 |title=Records - Indra release centers |url=http://idlebrain.com/trade/records/indrareleasecenters.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403163537/http://www.idlebrain.com/trade/records/indrareleasecenters.html |archive-date=3 April 2016 |access-date=16 September 2016 |website=Idlebrain |df=dmy-all}}</ref> | ||
The release generated significant excitement, with long queues forming from midnight on 23rd July and large crowds gathering at theatres across the state. Reports of black ticket sales emerged in several locations, including complaints about police involvement in black marketing, particularly in [[Guntur]].<ref name=":8">{{cite web |date=September 2002 |title=Chiranjeevi Indra records |url=http://www.idlebrain.com/trade/records/indra.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727071118/http://www.idlebrain.com/trade/records/indra.html |archive-date=27 July 2016 |access-date=16 September 2016 |website=[[Idlebrain.com]] |df=dmy-all}}</ref> | |||
On 23rd July, the film's storywriter, Chinni Krishna, celebrated the release in his hometown, Tenali, by arranging a special premiere show at 9 pm. Fans from neighboring [[Karnataka]] cities, such as [[Kolar, Karnataka|Kolar]] and [[Chikkaballapur]], travelled to [[Madanapalle]] to watch the film on its release day.<ref name=":8" /> | |||
Several incidents occurred during the film's release, including die-hard Chiranjeevi fans storming a theatre in [[Ballari]] for an early screening. Additionally, a fan attempted suicide over ticket issues but was stopped by other fans.<ref name=":8" /> | |||
In September 2002, ''Indra'' faced widespread piracy as 70,000 pirated CDs originating from [[Bengaluru|Bangalore]] flooded markets across Andhra Pradesh after the film crossed its 50-day mark, causing a significant drop in collections in areas like [[Ballari]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 September 2002 |title=70,000 pirated Indra CDs released |url=https://idlebrain.com/news/2000march20/news228.html |access-date=2025-01-10 |website=Idlebrain.com}}</ref> | |||
==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
=== Box office === | |||
|access-date=24 January 2013|publisher=Idlebrain }}</ref> | Upon release, ''Indra'' became a major commercial success, setting several box office records for its opening day, week, and lifetime collections. | ||
''Indra'' grossed over {{Indian Rupee|51.8 crore}} against a budget of {{INR|10 [[crore]]}},<ref name="news18">{{Cite web |date=2020-07-24 |title=చిరంజీవి బ్లాక్ బస్టర్ 'ఇంద్ర' సినిమాకు 18 ఏళ్లు.. సాధించిన రికార్డులు .. |trans-title=Chiranjeevi's blockbuster ''Indra'' completes 18 years. Box office records |url=https://telugu.news18.com/photogallery/movies/megastar-chiranjeevi-b-goapl-aswani-dutt-block-bluster-indra-movie-completed-18-years-ta-561306-page-8.html |access-date=2020-08-01 |website=[[Network18 Group|News18 Telugu]] |language=te}}</ref> making it the [[List of highest-grossing Telugu films|highest-grossing Telugu film]] at the time of its release.<ref name=":0" /> The film set a record by earning a distributor share of ₹26crore, with ₹22crore from Andhra Pradesh and ₹3-4 | |||
crore from other states, including [[Karnataka]], [[Odisha|Orissa]], and [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref name=":8" /> | |||
It was the first Telugu film to gross over ₹50 crore, a record later surpassed by ''[[Pokiri]]'' (2006).<ref name=":3" /> It became the [[List of highest-grossing Telugu films|highest grossing Telugu film]] ever as well as the all-time [[List of highest-grossing South Indian films|highest-grossing South-Indian film]], surpassing ''[[Padayappa]]'' (1999). It was the second highest-grossing Indian film of 2002, following [[Devdas (2002 Hindi film)|''Devdas'']].<ref name=":6" /> | |||
''Indra'' had a 50-day run in 152 centres, including nine in Karnataka and two in Orissa,<ref>{{cite web |title=Records - Indra 50 days centers |url=http://idlebrain.com/trade/records/indra50dayscenters.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403113242/http://www.idlebrain.com/trade/records/indra50dayscenters.html |archive-date=3 April 2016 |access-date=16 September 2016 |website=Idlebrain |df=dmy-all}}</ref> and a 100-day run in 122 centres, with four in Karnataka and one in Orissa.<ref>{{cite web |title=Records - Indra 100 days centers |url=http://idlebrain.com/trade/records/indra100dayscenters.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403121342/http://www.idlebrain.com/trade/records/indra100dayscenters.html |archive-date=3 April 2016 |access-date=16 September 2016 |website=Idlebrain |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-01-11 |title=Indra is 175, not out! |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/hyderabad-times/indra-is-175-not-out/articleshow/33976268.cms |access-date=2025-01-05 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> The film also had a 175-day run in 32 centres, including a 247-day run at Satyam Theatre in Adoni.<ref name="cinegoer.com">{{cite web |title=Chiranjeevi's 175-Day Centres List |url=http://www.cinegoer.com/chiru175.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120814181040/http://www.cinegoer.com/chiru175.htm |archive-date=14 August 2012 |access-date=16 September 2016 |website=CineGoer.com |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> | |||
The 175-day celebration event was held in [[Vijayawada]], with Chief Minister [[N. Chandrababu Naidu]] as the chief guest.<ref name=":7" /> | |||
=== Critical response === | |||
Jeevi of ''[[Idlebrain.com]]'' gave a rating of {{Fraction|4|1|2}} out of 5 stating, "First half is a perfect blend of mass and class elements. It's extraordinary. The interval scene gives the right finishing touch to the first half."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://idlebrain.com/movie/archive/mr-indra.html|title=Indra Review|access-date=24 January 2013|publisher=[[Idlebrain.com]]}}</ref> A critic from ''[[Sify]]'' wrote, "On the whole the film is refreshing and a good entertainer with Chiru at his best".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sify.com/movies/telugu/review.php?id=11779350&ctid=5&cid=2430|title=Review: Indra|work=[[Sify]]|last=Moviebuzz|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050107092644/http://sify.com/movies/telugu/review.php?id=11779350&ctid=5&cid=2430|archive-date=7 January 2005}}</ref> | |||
== Legacy == | |||
''Indra'' is one of the biggest hits in Chiranjeevi's film career. | |||
The film had an excellent run on Hindi television channels through the dubbed version ''Indra: The Tiger''.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="htimes" /> Saudamini Jain of ''[[Hindustan Times]]'' wrote in 2015, "For a decade now, the Telugu blockbuster ''Indra'' dubbed in Hindi as ''Indra The Tiger'' seems to have become a permanent fixture on TV".<ref name="htimes" /> TV and film writer Mushtaq Sheikh said of the film, "When I was heading [[Sahara One]] (in 2010-11) we had these perpetual, evergreen films: whenever you needed ratings, you could close your eyes and screen them. ''Indra'' was one of them."<ref name="htimes" /> CEO of Applause Entertainment Sameer Nair noted, “We used to play ''Indra: The Tiger'' and our ratings were sorted for two weeks."<ref name=":2" /> Diptakirti Chaudhuri, in his book ''Bioscope: A Frivolous History of Bollywood in Ten Chapters'', listed ''Indra'' as one of the most-watched dubbed films on Indian television.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chaudhuri |first=Diptakirti |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_e9LDwAAQBAJ&dq=Indra+Chiranjeevi&pg=PA1952 |title=Bioscope: A Frivolous History of Bollywood in Ten Chapters |date=2018-02-25 |publisher=[[Hachette India]] |isbn=978-93-5195-229-9 |pages=1952 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
== Awards == | == Awards == | ||
| Line 271: | Line 287: | ||
| rowspan="2" |<ref>{{cite web|title=Manikchand Filmfare Awards: Sizzling at 50|url=http://portal.bsnl.in/intranetnews.asp?url=/bsnl/asp/content%20mgmt/html%20content/entertainment/entertainment14489.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721152719/http://portal.bsnl.in/intranetnews.asp?url=%2Fbsnl%2Fasp%2Fcontent%20mgmt%2Fhtml%20content%2Fentertainment%2Fentertainment14489.html|archive-date=21 July 2011|access-date=2009-10-19|publisher=[[BSNL]]}}</ref> | | rowspan="2" |<ref>{{cite web|title=Manikchand Filmfare Awards: Sizzling at 50|url=http://portal.bsnl.in/intranetnews.asp?url=/bsnl/asp/content%20mgmt/html%20content/entertainment/entertainment14489.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721152719/http://portal.bsnl.in/intranetnews.asp?url=%2Fbsnl%2Fasp%2Fcontent%20mgmt%2Fhtml%20content%2Fentertainment%2Fentertainment14489.html|archive-date=21 July 2011|access-date=2009-10-19|publisher=[[BSNL]]}}</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Filmfare Award for Best | |[[Filmfare Award for Best Choreography – South|Best Choreography]] | ||
|[[Raghava Lawrence]] | |[[Raghava Lawrence]] | ||
|{{won}} | |{{won}} | ||
| Line 286: | Line 302: | ||
|{{won}} | |{{won}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
|[[Nandi Award for Best Male Dubbing Artist|Best Male Dubbing | |[[Nandi Award for Best Male Dubbing Artist|Best Male Dubbing Artist]] | ||
|[[P. Ravi Shankar]] | |[[P. Ravi Shankar]] | ||
|{{won}} | |{{won}} | ||
| Line 300: | Line 316: | ||
|[[Aarthi Agarwal]] | |[[Aarthi Agarwal]] | ||
|{{won}} | |{{won}} | ||
|} | |} | ||
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Indra (Film)}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Indra (Film)}} | ||
[[Category:2002 films]] | [[Category:2002 films]] | ||
[[Category:Films shot in Uttar Pradesh]] | [[Category:Films shot in Uttar Pradesh]] | ||
[[Category:Films shot in Andhra Pradesh]] | [[Category:Films shot in Andhra Pradesh]] | ||
[[Category:Indian drama films]] | [[Category:Indian drama films]] | ||
[[Category:Telugu films remade in other languages]] | [[Category:Telugu films remade in other languages]] | ||
[[Category:Films | [[Category:Films about feuds]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:2002 Telugu-language films]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:2000s masala films]] | ||
[[Category:Films directed by B. Gopal]] | [[Category:Films directed by B. Gopal]] | ||
[[Category:Films scored by Mani Sharma]] | [[Category:Films scored by Mani Sharma]] | ||
[[Category:2002 drama films]] | [[Category:2002 drama films]] | ||
[[Category:Vyjayanthi Movies films]] | |||
Latest revision as of 23:36, 3 March 2026
Script error: No such module "About-distinguish".
| Indra | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | B. Gopal |
| Produced by | C. Aswani Dutt |
| Written by | Story: Chinni Krishna Screenplay & Dialogues: Paruchuri Brothers |
| Starring | Chiranjeevi Aarthi Agarwal Sonali Bendre |
| Music by | Mani Sharma |
| Cinematography | V. S. R. Swamy |
| Edited by | Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 173 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Telugu |
| Budget | ₹13 crore[1] |
| Box office | est. ₹55 crore[2][3] |
Indra is a 2002 Indian Telugu-language action drama film directed by B. Gopal and produced by C. Aswani Dutt under Vyjayanthi Movies banner. The film stars Chiranjeevi in the title role, alongside Aarthi Agarwal, Sonali Bendre, Mukesh Rishi, Sivaji, and Prakash Raj in key roles. The music for the film was composed by Mani Sharma.
The film was released on 24 July 2002. Made on a budget of ₹13 crore, it grossed over ₹55 crore, becoming the highest-grossing Telugu film at the time,[4][2] and the highest-grossing South-Indian film, surpassing Padayappa (1999). It also became the first South Indian film to gross over ₹50 crore in a single language and was the second highest-grossing Indian film of 2002, after Devdas.[5]
Indra received positive reviews and won several awards, including three Nandi Awards and two Filmfare Awards South. Chiranjeevi received both the Nandi Award for Best Actor and Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Telugu for his performance. The film was dubbed into Hindi as Indra: The Tiger[6] and was remade in Indian Bengali as Dada (2005) and Bangladeshi Bengali as Goriber Dada (2006).
Plot[edit | edit source]
In a village in Rayalaseema, two rival clans led by Bharathasimha Reddy and Veera Siva Reddy, are embroiled in a cycle of violence. A police inspector arranges a marriage between Bharathasimha Reddy's brother, Vijayasimha Reddy, and Siva Reddy's sister to broker peace. However, Siva Reddy's sister poisons Vijayasimha Reddy on their wedding night, leading to both their deaths. Following this betrayal, Siva Reddy and his men kill Bharathasimha Reddy. Siva Reddy is arrested and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
With the male leaders of Bharathasimha's family dead, his son, Indrasena "Indra" Reddy, steps up to lead the clan. In a powerful scene, Indra takes a sword and sits on the throne, symbolising his new role as the clan leader, much to the delight of his paternal grandmother and the rest of the clan.
In 2002, Indra is living in Varanasi under the alias Shankar Narayana, a truthful and honest taxi driver. During a singing competition at his niece's college, her friend Pallavi, the daughter of Uttar Pradesh's governor Chenna Kesava Reddy, falls in love with Shankar and pretends to be an orphan to live at his house. When Chenna Kesava Reddy discovers his daughter's whereabouts, he goes to Shankar's home but changes his mind upon recognizing him as Indrasena Reddy. Instead, he requests Shankar to marry Pallavi, but Shankar refuses due to his responsibilities towards his niece, Nandini.
Giri, an orphaned youth who has become Shankar's right-hand man, confesses his love for Nandini, and Shankar arranges their wedding. However, the wedding is disrupted by Snehalatha Reddy, who reveals that Giri is actually Veera Manohar Reddy, the son of Veera Shankar Reddy, Siva Reddy's elder son. She also addresses Shankar as Indrasena Reddy, shocking his adoptive family. After a confrontation, Valmiki, Indra's trusted associate, narrates Indra's past.
Indra, revered in his village, was dedicated to the welfare of the people. After Siva Reddy's release from prison, Indra warned him to stay away, but Siva Reddy instigated violence, leading Indra to kill him. Snehalatha, Siva Reddy's daughter, fell in love with Indra, but Veera Shankar Reddy sought revenge. Indra saved Veera Shankar Reddy's younger son from an accident, but Veera Shankar Reddy killed his own son to maintain his pride.
Indra confronted Veera Shankar Reddy, allowing the boy's mother to mourn before burying him and planting a "Tulasi" sapling over his grave, symbolizing the boy's soul. Indra warned Veera Shankar Reddy to protect the plant or face his wrath. Snehalatha then proposed marriage to Indra, but the village's drought led Indra to negotiate for the construction of a reservoir, which required land from Siva Reddy's family. Veera Shankar Reddy demanded Indra's entire property in return, to which Indra agreed. Snehalatha asked to marry Indra as her share of the land, and he accepted.
However, on their wedding day, Veera Shankar Reddy killed Indra's sisters and their husbands, orphaning Nandini and her brother Pradeep. Enraged, Indra killed Veera Shankar Reddy's three brothers and wounded him. Misled by her family, Snehalatha believed Indra was responsible for the violence and broke off the engagement. Indra then left the village for Varanasi to raise his niece and nephew.
In the present, Nandini attempts suicide after becoming pregnant with Manohar Reddy's child. Indra returns to the village, receiving a hero's welcome. He confronts Veera Shankar Reddy and demands that Manohar Reddy marry Nandini. Snehalatha learns the truth about her brothers' actions and tries to help, but is attacked. Indra saves her and decides to end the cycle of revenge without killing Veera Shankar Reddy. Manohar Reddy marries Nandini, but Indra remains focused on his duty to the people, rejecting marriage proposals from both Snehalatha and Pallavi. The film ends with Indra receiving widespread support from the villagers, solidifying his commitment to ending the violence in Rayalaseema.
Cast[edit | edit source]
- Chiranjeevi as Indrasena "Indra" Reddy / Shankar Narayana
- Teja Sajja as young Indrasena Reddy
- Aarthi Agarwal as Snehalatha Reddy
- Sonali Bendre as Pallavi Reddy
- Sivaji as Veera Manohara Reddy / Giri
- Tanish as young Veera Manohar Reddy
- Kalpana as Indra's elder sister
- Vinaya Prasad as Indra's eldest sister
- Mukesh Rishi as Veera Shankar Reddy
- Delhi rajeswari as Veera Shankar Reddy Wife.
- Prakash Raj as Chenna Kesava Reddy
- Puneet Issar as Shoukath Ali Khan
- Raza Murad as Veera Siva Reddy
- Tanikella Bharani as Valmiki Reddy, Indrasena Reddy's assistant
- Ahuti Prasad as Krishna Reddy, Indrasena Reddy's brother-in-law
- Sunil as Balu Natha, Veera Shankar Reddy's brother-in-law
- Brahmanandam as Pandit
- Sameer as Vijaya Simha Reddy, Indrasena Reddy's uncle
- Dharmavarapu Subramanyam as Pandit's friend
- M. S. Narayana as Gangaram, car driver
- Pavala Syamala as Bamma
- Narra Venkateswara Rao as Superintendent of Police Damodar Reddy
- Allu Ramalingaiah as Subba Rayudu
- AVS as Bacchu Peda Pichayya
- G. V. Sudhakar Naidu as Veera Prathap Reddy
- Raja Ravindra as Veera Bhadra Reddy
- Lahari as Nandini Manohara Natha
- Rajitha
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam as himself in a cameo appearance
- Rani in cameo appearance
- Sivakrishna as Bharatha Simha Reddy, Indrasena Reddy's father
- Kalpana as Veera Siva Natha's sister
- Telangana Shakuntala as Mrs Reddy; Indrasena's grandmother
- Unknown as Pradeep Reddy;
- Aanand Vardhan as Indra's nephew (young)
- Unknown as Mamat;
- Yadagiri as Veera Shankar Reddy's henchmen
Production[edit | edit source]
Development[edit | edit source]
Following the successes of Gang Leader (1991) and Gharana Mogudu (1992), Chiranjeevi experienced a period without delivering an industry hit, although he continued to deliver major blockbusters. During this time, fans and industry analysts eagerly awaited his return with a strong mass entertainer. Chiranjeevi, meanwhile, considered taking on a family-oriented story to reconnect with his audience.[7]
Producer Aswani Dutt and director B. Gopal were approached by writer Chinni Krishna with a new story set in Rayalaseema, addressing the region's water crisis as a central theme intertwined with factional conflicts.[8][7] While the script showed promise, there were concerns about audience reception to another faction-themed film, given B. Gopal's association with such narratives. B. Gopal was also hesitant to direct the project due to his earlier unsuccessful collaboration with Chiranjeevi on Mechanic Alludu (1993). However, writer Paruchuri Gopala Krishna eventually persuaded him to take on the project.[7]
Chinni Krishna was tasked with further developing the story, which initially had the Krishna-Godavari river region as its backdrop. During discussions with Paruchuri Gopala Krishna, the setting was changed to Kasi (Varanasi) and the Ganga river region to expand the narrative's scope.[7]
The film marked Chiranjeevi's third collaboration with Vyjayanthi Movies, following Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari (1990) and Choodalani Vundi (1998). After two months of filming, Aswani Dutt suggested the title Indra, which Chiranjeevi approved.[9]
Casting[edit | edit source]
Jyothika and Simran were initially considered for the lead female roles, but were replaced by Aarti Agarwal and Sonali Bendre. For the role played by Sivaji, actors such as Venkat and Raja were considered before Sivaji was finalised.[7]
Filming[edit | edit source]
The film was completed in 120 working days with a budget of ₹7 crore, excluding Chiranjeevi's remuneration.[7] Sets resembling Varanasi were recreated at Annapurna Studios, while a Rayalaseema village set was constructed at Ramoji Film City. Two duets were filmed in Switzerland.[10] Portions of the film were shot in Varanasi and Lucknow in January 2002.[11]
Music[edit | edit source]
| Indra | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | 2002 | |||
| Recorded | 2002 | |||
| Genre | Feature film soundtrack | |||
| Length | 31:52 | |||
| Language | Telugu | |||
| Label | Aditya Music | |||
| Producer | Mani Sharma | |||
| Mani Sharma chronology | ||||
| ||||
The soundtrack of Indra was composed by Mani Sharma, with the song "Ayyo Ayyo Ayyayyo" composed by R. P. Patnaik due to Mani Sharma's unavailability.[7] The album featured six songs, chosen from 11 recorded tracks.[9]
The audio was released on the evening of 14 June 2002 at a set in the first floor of Annapurna Studios.[12] The audio album of Indra was released 45 days before the film's theatrical release, instead of the usual 20–30 days, to ensure the music had more time to resonate with the audience.[9]
Gemini TV covered this event and it was telecast as a 30-minute capsule on Gemini TV. Chiranjeevi selected a coupon from the lucky dip box and called the lucky fan to the stage. Chiranjeevi opened the audio box and handed over the first cassette to that fan. The audio hit the market on 17 June 2002.[12]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bham Bham Bole" | Sirivennela Sitaramasastri | Hariharan, Shankar Mahadevan | 6:08 |
| 2. | "Ammadu Appachi" | Veturi | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam & Kalpana | 4:44 |
| 3. | "Radhe Govinda" | Bhuvanachandra | K. S. Chithra, Udit Narayan | 4:50 |
| 4. | "Ghallu Ghallu" | Sirivennela Sitaramasastri | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Mallikarjun | 5:52 |
| 5. | "Dayi Dayi Damma" | Sirivennela Sitaramasastri | KK & Mahalakshmi Iyer | 5:20 |
| 6. | "Ayyo Ayyo Ayyayyo" (Composed by R. P. Patnaik) | Kulasekhar | Karthik & Usha | 4:58 |
| Total length: | 31:52 | |||
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bom Bom Osai" | Muthulingam | Tippu | 6:08 |
| 2. | "Alva Thundu Penne" | Snehan | Tippu, Anuradha Sriram | 4:44 |
| 3. | "Radhe Gopala" | Ponniyin Selvan | Unnikrishnan, Sujatha | 4:50 |
| 4. | "Jhallu Jhallu" | Muthulingam | Ramu | 5:52 |
| 5. | "Aadi Aadi Vamma" | Ponniyin Selvan | Yugendran, Sri Vardhini | 5:20 |
| 6. | "Ayayaya" (Composed by R. P. Patnaik) | Snehan | Karthik, Shalini | 4:58 |
| Total length: | 31:52 | |||
All lyrics are written by Dev Kohli.
| No. | Title | Singer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bam Bam Bole" | Tippu | 6:08 |
| 2. | "Main Tera Deewana" | 4:44 | |
| 3. | "Radhe Govinda Tu Mera Chanda" | Udit Narayan, Sadhana Sargam | 4:50 |
| 4. | "Jhoom Jhoom Ke Payal" | Suresh Wadkar | 5:52 |
| 5. | "Yeh Haseena Chehra" | Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam | 5:20 |
| 6. | "Kaisi Hai Barfili Thandi Yeh Hawa" (Composed by R. P. Patnaik) | 4:58 | |
| Total length: | 31:52 | ||
Release[edit | edit source]
Indra was released on 24 July 2002, on 268 screens, including 223 in Andhra Pradesh, 30 in Karnataka, three in Orissa, and 15 in the United States.[4][13]
The release generated significant excitement, with long queues forming from midnight on 23rd July and large crowds gathering at theatres across the state. Reports of black ticket sales emerged in several locations, including complaints about police involvement in black marketing, particularly in Guntur.[14]
On 23rd July, the film's storywriter, Chinni Krishna, celebrated the release in his hometown, Tenali, by arranging a special premiere show at 9 pm. Fans from neighboring Karnataka cities, such as Kolar and Chikkaballapur, travelled to Madanapalle to watch the film on its release day.[14]
Several incidents occurred during the film's release, including die-hard Chiranjeevi fans storming a theatre in Ballari for an early screening. Additionally, a fan attempted suicide over ticket issues but was stopped by other fans.[14]
In September 2002, Indra faced widespread piracy as 70,000 pirated CDs originating from Bangalore flooded markets across Andhra Pradesh after the film crossed its 50-day mark, causing a significant drop in collections in areas like Ballari.[15]
Reception[edit | edit source]
Box office[edit | edit source]
Upon release, Indra became a major commercial success, setting several box office records for its opening day, week, and lifetime collections.
Indra grossed over ₹51.8 crore against a budget of ₹10 crore,[1] making it the highest-grossing Telugu film at the time of its release.[4] The film set a record by earning a distributor share of ₹26crore, with ₹22crore from Andhra Pradesh and ₹3-4
crore from other states, including Karnataka, Orissa, and Tamil Nadu.[14]
It was the first Telugu film to gross over ₹50 crore, a record later surpassed by Pokiri (2006).[7] It became the highest grossing Telugu film ever as well as the all-time highest-grossing South-Indian film, surpassing Padayappa (1999). It was the second highest-grossing Indian film of 2002, following Devdas.[5]
Indra had a 50-day run in 152 centres, including nine in Karnataka and two in Orissa,[16] and a 100-day run in 122 centres, with four in Karnataka and one in Orissa.[17][18] The film also had a 175-day run in 32 centres, including a 247-day run at Satyam Theatre in Adoni.[19][4]
The 175-day celebration event was held in Vijayawada, with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as the chief guest.[8]
Critical response[edit | edit source]
Jeevi of Idlebrain.com gave a rating of Template:Fraction out of 5 stating, "First half is a perfect blend of mass and class elements. It's extraordinary. The interval scene gives the right finishing touch to the first half."[20] A critic from Sify wrote, "On the whole the film is refreshing and a good entertainer with Chiru at his best".[21]
Legacy[edit | edit source]
Indra is one of the biggest hits in Chiranjeevi's film career.
The film had an excellent run on Hindi television channels through the dubbed version Indra: The Tiger.[6][2] Saudamini Jain of Hindustan Times wrote in 2015, "For a decade now, the Telugu blockbuster Indra dubbed in Hindi as Indra The Tiger seems to have become a permanent fixture on TV".[2] TV and film writer Mushtaq Sheikh said of the film, "When I was heading Sahara One (in 2010-11) we had these perpetual, evergreen films: whenever you needed ratings, you could close your eyes and screen them. Indra was one of them."[2] CEO of Applause Entertainment Sameer Nair noted, “We used to play Indra: The Tiger and our ratings were sorted for two weeks."[6] Diptakirti Chaudhuri, in his book Bioscope: A Frivolous History of Bollywood in Ten Chapters, listed Indra as one of the most-watched dubbed films on Indian television.[22]
Awards[edit | edit source]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Filmfare Awards | Best Actor – Telugu | Chiranjeevi | Won | [23] |
| Best Choreography | Raghava Lawrence | Won | |||
| 2002 | Nandi Awards | Best Actor | Chiranjeevi | Won | [24] |
| Best Choreographer | Raghava Lawrence | Won | |||
| Best Male Dubbing Artist | P. Ravi Shankar | Won | |||
| 2002 | CineMAA Awards | Best Actor – Telugu | Chiranjeevi | Won | [25] |
| Best Actress – Telugu | Aarthi Agarwal | Won |
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "చిరంజీవి బ్లాక్ బస్టర్ 'ఇంద్ర' సినిమాకు 18 ఏళ్లు.. సాధించిన రికార్డులు ." [Chiranjeevi's blockbuster Indra completes 18 years. Box office records]. News18 Telugu (in తెలుగు). 24 July 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Jain, Saudamini (5 March 2015). "Why Indra The Tiger is a permanent fixture on Indian television". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
- ↑ Krishna (24 July 2020). "18 Years for Megastar Indra Movie : మెగాస్టార్ 'ఇంద్ర' కి 18 ఏళ్ళు!". HMTV (in తెలుగు). Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "మెగాస్టార్ 'ఇంద్ర' కి నేటితో 18 ఏళ్లు.!" [Megastar's Indra completes 18 years today!]. Namasthe Telangana (in తెలుగు). 24 July 2020. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "When Chiranjeevi-starrer Hit Film Indra Was Criticised For This Scene". News18. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 S., Vidya; Lidhoo, Prerna (22 July 2022). "How Movies From the South Conquered Bollywood". Business Today. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
Says Applause Entertainment CEO Sameer Nair: "We used to play Indra: The Tiger (Hindi dub of Telugu film Indra) and our ratings were sorted for two weeks."
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 "Indra: 'ఇంద్ర'ను తెరకెక్కించేందుకు వెనకడుగేశారు కానీ: ఈ బ్లాక్ బస్టర్ మూవీ విశేషాలు తెలుసా?". Eenadu (in తెలుగు). 24 July 2024. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Indra 175 days function". Idlebrain. 12 January 2003. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Interview with Aswini Dutt by Jeevi". Idlebrain. 2 July 2002. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ↑ "Movie Preview - Indra". Idlebrain. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ↑ C. Vanaja (2002). "News Capsule". Telugucinema.com. Archived from the original on 6 February 2002. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Telugu Cinema Etc - Idlebrain.com". Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ↑ "Records - Indra release centers". Idlebrain. 2002. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 "Chiranjeevi Indra records". Idlebrain.com. September 2002. Archived from the original on 27 July 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ↑ "70,000 pirated Indra CDs released". Idlebrain.com. 20 September 2002. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
- ↑ "Records - Indra 50 days centers". Idlebrain. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ↑ "Records - Indra 100 days centers". Idlebrain. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ↑ "Indra is 175, not out!". The Times of India. 11 January 2003. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
- ↑ "Chiranjeevi's 175-Day Centres List". CineGoer.com. Archived from the original on 14 August 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
- ↑ "Indra Review". Idlebrain.com. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
- ↑ Moviebuzz. "Review: Indra". Sify. Archived from the original on 7 January 2005.
- ↑ Chaudhuri, Diptakirti (25 February 2018). Bioscope: A Frivolous History of Bollywood in Ten Chapters. Hachette India. p. 1952. ISBN 978-93-5195-229-9.
- ↑ "Manikchand Filmfare Awards: Sizzling at 50". BSNL. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
- ↑ "Nandi Film Awards G.O and Results 2002". APFTVTDC. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ↑ "Telugu CineMaa Awards 2002". Idlebrain. Retrieved 16 January 2021.